Rahul Gandhi to launch second round of campaigning in Odisha on May 15

Bhubaneswar: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Odisha for canvassing for the party ahead of the second phase Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the state.

Gandhi will address a public meeting in Bolangir Lok Sabha constituency on May 15.

He is scheduled to arrive at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) here at around 11 am on May 15 and travel to Bolangir to address the meeting.

Altogether five Lok Sabha seats—Bolangir, Bargarh, Sundargarh, Kandhamal and Aska—and 35 Assembly segments under them will go for polling in the second phase of 2024 polls in Odisha on May 20.

The Congress party has fielded actor Manoj Mishra from Bolangir Lok Sabha seat. Mishra will take on sitting Bolangir MP and BJP nominee Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo and BJD’s Surendra Singh Bhoi, a former minister in Odisha.

Notably, Gandhi had addressed a public meeting at Salipur in Cuttack district on April 28.

The Congress leader had also addressed a poll rally at Rayagada on virtual mode on May 3 while seeking support for party nominees.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge is also scheduled to visit Odisha on May 16 to campaign for the party ahead of the second phase polls in the state.

Kharge will address a poll rally in Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency.

The Congress party has fielded Amir Chand Nayak from Kandhamal seat. Nayak will take on sitting MP and BJD nominee Achyuta Samanta and BJP’s Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi in the polls.